The impact of COVID-19 on the office market has been discussed extensively over the last few months in webinars and in the press. It is still too early to jump to conclusions regarding the office market in general, but we can definitely expect a reduction in demand for certain types of office spaces compared with the period before the health crisis. While we are preparing for our return to the office, we can already identify the most important parameters for future office buildings.

Within the Group, developers are mindful of residents’ new well-being requirements, particularly in light of the current pandemic. They are therefore increasingly focusing on specific services, oriented towards slow living and the introduction of more plant life and fulfilling activities in the city.

This is one of the Group’s strengths: in most of its locations, a specialist interior design team assists its residential customers and responds to their expectations in order to customize the layouts of their future home. In this way, it creates an interior that is beautiful, functional and efficient at the same time.

For offices like in other sectors, Immobel applies high standards and aims for high-quality finishes.

Multi, the new name for the former Philips Tower, - owned Immobel and its partner - envisages the renovation of a single-use office building. It is an ambitious programme with significant added value for the public and occupants. It is also a renovation that ticks many virtuous boxes: circularity, re-use and mobility. Christine Conix of CONIX RDBM Architects, explains the challenges.

The role of landscape architects is crucial in developments. Anne-Marie Sauvat, founder of the Atelier EOLE landscape architecture firm, explains her ambition: to design understated and diversified plantscapes to turn the soil of our cities into a veritable factory of biodiversity.

Looking for fossil-free solutions, Immobel is working with talented technical partners such as geothermal specialist Jeroen Rabaey, CEO of Noven, to develop new energy approaches in its projects.

Immobel is not afraid to export its know-how to new markets. In Spain, for example, in a highly competitive environment and geographical area, the Group makes use of local expertise for a large resort project in partnership with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.

Immobel has real expertise in investing in urban wastelands and turning them into vibrant, people-filled, comfortable living spaces. Three of the Group’s projects in particular provide illustrations of this know-how.

Highly anticipated, due to its location and the iconic appearance of its 1970s era building, the Centre Monnaie project provides for the conversion of the current office building located above “The Mint” shopping centre.

Immobel France intends to improve the way of working to encourage an integrated approach. With Immpulse, it is developing a design thinking methodology in the service of office projects. More agility for higher-quality projects!

Keen to offer innovative solutions with real added value for the residents of its buildings, Immobel is focusing, in particular, on solving mobility-related issues. Its collaboration with MyMove, a D’Ieteren initiative, is an example of this, applied to a very urban project: Royal Louise.